Liquid-separator.



G. E. SANFORD.

LIQUID SEPARATOR. APE'LIOATION FILED JULY 27, 1909 1,016,366. PatentedFeb. 6, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

34mm km G. B. SANFORD.

LIQUID SBPABATOR. APPLICATION mum 111L227, 1909.

1,016,366. Patentad Feb. 6, 1912.

3 BEBBTHHEET 8.

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G. E. SANFORD. LIQUID SEPARATOR. APPLICATION mun JULY 21. 1909.

z w 2 o M E N 6 w M W ..D.H Rm 1 m W m w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. SANFORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,T

SANFORD CLARIFYING AN D SEPARATING WARE.

COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELA- LIQUID-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1909.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912. Serial No.- 509,827;

parts o'f different specific gravities; and the' mvention consists ofthe parts and construc tions and combinations of the parts herein--after fully described,. illustrated in the aocornp ying drawings andparticularly pointed out in the appended'plaims;

Impurities in liqu ds are now commonly removed by filtering,precipitating, decanting and skimming. In the present instance, theimpurities are removed from theliquid by running-the liquid through arapidly revolving drum wherein the centrifugal force.

.geiieratedby'the motion of the drum,'acting in unison, with theforcesof the difl'erent specific gravities of the substances in the liquid andthe liquid itself will force those having agreater specific gravity thanthe liquid to gravitate toward and be deposited at the periphery of thedrum where they will be retained by disks, and those having'a lighterspecific gravity the? the liquid will gravitate and be deposite at theaxis and be retained by disks, the clarified liquid being drawn oilthrough an opening midway between the periphery and the axis.

The drum is so arranged that when the spaces between the disks arefilled with im= purities the drum can be cleansed by flushmg and theimpurities washed out, or. the disks can be withdrawn and cleaned, ifdesired.

In the accompanying drawings forming art of this speclfication, and inwhich simiar. characters of reference denote corresponding partsFigure 1ista vertical sec-v tional view of the invention in operative conditionindicating the separation of the Iiquidsof-differentspecific gravities.Fig. 2 IS a similar view illustrating the inentionwith its partsassembled forthe flushing or residing at in thp'county of Cook and Stateofand at its up rotate with the shaft cleansing operation. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view. Fig.4 is a top plan view.

Refer-rm now more "particularly to. the accompanying drawings, thereference char acter 1 indicates a drum mounted for rotation upon thecentral shaft 2 which is mounted at its lower end in the bearing 3 erend through a supporting part 4, the said shaft bein provided with alongitudinal bore 5 exten ing substantially throughout its entire lengthand at its upper -end provided with a funnel 6 which has communicationwith said here for a purpose presently explained, the said central shaftalso having sets of openings 7 leading from its bore to the interior ofan internal drum 8 mounted within the outer drum 1 and rotatable withthe latter upon said shaft 2.

The drums are arranged so that thcv may driven through any suitablepower (not shown), and which may have connection with the drive ully 9secured to the upper end of the'sha 2, as'shown.

Two sets of shelves 10 and 11 are removably'and slidably secured to theinner sure face or walls of the outerand inner drums ,1 and 8,respectively, and preferably .in

alineinent. These shelves 10 and 11 m be secured in position byconnection with the inner walls of the drums, but are preferablysupported loosely against the drums hy the "uprights 12 and 13,respectively, which are provided with a plurality of notches 14 and 15,respectively, for the reception of the corresponding edges of saidshelves. These shelves 10 and 11 are adapted to retain the heavierimpurities, as shown in heavy lines in Fig. 1.

Likewise disposed against the outer sur- -face of the inner drum 8 is aplurali of shelves 16 which are further supports by the uprights 17provided with notches 18 to receive the outer edges of said shelves, thecharacter 19 indicating another lurality of shelves which are secured tot e shaft 2 with their peripheries fitted in the notches 20 of theuprightsupporting elements 21. The plurality of shelves 16 and 19 retainthe lighter impurities, as shown by the heavv lines inFi 1.

2 when the latter is The liquid to e clarified is let into the innerdrums by means of'a valved inlet 22' through an opening 23 disposed atthe top of the inner drum and centrally thereof, the incoming liquidfalling upon the shelf 19 disposed above the central vertically aliningshelves 19, passes between the shelves 11 and 19, there being sets ofshelves 24 disposed immediatelybeneath the openings or passages betweenthe shelves 11 and 19 so as to arrest the flow of liquid and separatethe current to assist in separating the impurities as the liquid passesdownwardly toward the bottom of the inner drum. As shown, the inner drumis spaced at its lower end from the bottom of the outer drum so that theliquid may finally pass upwardly in the machine between the inner andouter drums, as indicated by'arrows in the accompanying drawings, therebeing shelves 25 secured to the lower edge of the inner drum 8, whichare wider than the before-mentioned shelves, adapted to hold back theliquid and force it between both sets of shelves 11 and 19 until thespaces between the latter disks are full of liquid. The separatingshelves 24 divide the current, giving the impurities an initial start in'the direction in which the united forces of the specific gravities andthe centrifu a] force is drawing them, the bodies of the liquid betweenthe shelves being nearly at rest and the combined forces acting on themwith the result that the heavier impurities are deposited between theshelves 11 and the lighter impurities deposited between the shelves 19.The liquid finally asses under the shelves 25 at the bottom of he innerdrum and flows upwardly between the shelves 10 and 16 arran ed betweenthe inner and outer drums an at the top of the s ace between the innerand outer drums into uid is held back by the top of the outer rum untilthe spaces between the shelves 10 and 16 are full and the same actionhas taken place as in the inner drum, the remaining impurities beingdeposited between the two sets of shelves 10 and 16, the clarifiedliquid flowing out through the outlets 26 at the-top of the drum andwhich outlets are formed between the two removable closures 27 and 28.

When the spaces between the shelves become filled with impurities,- thedrum can be cleaned by removing the sectional covers 27 and 28 andsubsequently removing the shelves and their su porting upright elements;or if preferred the machine may be cleaned or cleansed without removingthe various arts thereof. In order to cleanse the mac ine withoutremoving the various parts I provide the outer and inner drums 1 an 8,respectivel with vertical offsets 29 and 30, respective y, each of whichis provided with a vertical bore 31 and 32, respectively, communicatingwith which bores are the a ertures 33 and 34, respectively.

Fitted 1n the bores 31 and 32 are the valve rods 35 and 36,respectively, each having apertures 37 adapted to be thrown into and outof alinement with the apertures 33 and 34 of the drums, they being outof alinenient with the perforations of the latter during the clarifyingoperation, and in alinement therewith when it is desired to flush thedrums. Thus by shutting oil the valved inlet 2?. and turning on thevalved inlet 37 from any suitable water source, water mav be let intothe bore 5 of the shaft 2, which will pass outwardly through theopenings 7 in the shaft and gradually work from the bottom upwardly inthe outer and inner drums 1 and 8, respectively, incident to thecentrifugal action of the drums passing through the apertures 34 of theinner drum and also through the apertures 33 in the outer drum, thevalve rods 35 and 36 being turned so that their openings 37 may alinewiththe apertures 33 and 34 prior to turning on the valved water inlet37'. In this way, the machine may be thoroughly flushed and afterflushing, the valve rods 35 and 36 are turned so that their openings 37will be out of alinement with the apertures 33 and 34 of the outer andinner drums, respectively, when the machine will be ready to resume theclarifying operation.

Any suitable means may be employed for operatin the valve rods 35 and36, but, as shown, t 1e valve rods 36 extend through the top of themachine and are provided with the oppositely disposed projections 38 and39 (see Fig. 4). These projections.38 and 39 are so arranged that duringthe clarifying operation they will not engage the links 40 and 41pivoted at 42 to the pivot block 43 and at 44 and 45, respectively, tothe lever 46, the said projections 38 and 39 passing between said links40 and 41 during the clarifyin operation. When it is desired to flushtie machine, the lever 46 is forced inwardly, causing the link 40 toengage the projection 38 on each valve rod 36 and turn the latter sothat its 0 enings 37 may aline with the openings 34 o the inner drum topermit of the passage of water therethrough. In the same way, the valverods 35 of the outer drum 1 may be manip'ulated by the lever 47 of thesame form, construction and arrangement as the lever 46, includin theparts associated therewith, the only di erence being that the valve rods35 are extending up vardly into the outer drum, while the valve rods 36of the inner drum are extended downwardly. To resume the clarifyingoperation after the flushing of the machine, the levers 46 and 47 arepulled outwardly, which causes their links 41 to engage the projections39 of the valve rods and turn the latter to close the openings 33 and 34of the outer and inner drums, respectively, so that the clarifying ofthe liquid may be continued. It will thus be eeimdifor mtationitwo setsoishelves-arranged mgy; be arranged adjustebly within the "In -otherWOI'dS, more notches than are in uprights may be employed, nas-isobviougto. receive the shelves, so that they have adjustment withrelation to one-another? or together, within the drums.

In any event, the shelves may be readily renoved fromthe drum whendesired, as has 18 een alrendj stated.

What is claimed is: g 1. Ina. centrifugal separator, an inner o andanouterdrum, sets'of shelves betweenthe inner-.and-outer drums, sets of.shelves 29 within theinnerdrum and means wherebythe drumsmaybe-rotated, the shelves within the-inner drum- .imd -the shelvesbet-Ween the M inner. andouter drums 'being arranged to eflect u depositof the'heavier impu ities at therperipheries --ofgthe drums and thelighter impurities atthe thereof and' permit of tliegescape of ther'clar'ified liquid from beulsnid -depositedilpplll'itifig; f :2. Inga.oentrifugulsseparator; an inner Mrwdmrouterdrum; thedmms being mountedrtio: .rota,te, between-the Q inner-endoutem-drumrg;undishelvevwitlfin;' I the;':inner..drum,- theshelves-being arranged vrhe rehy onrofntion of the-drums the-imrpermittedto esca fromrth'e-"drums 3 In. a, oentri gal'maehine; innermglhnhouter-drum the dnmis 'lieinggmount 'r between th'erdmms .nnd twosets-offsheltes I arranged Eiyrithing the sinner-drum one ,set ofshelves in -the ;space hebween -the drums andbneset-offshelves inthe-inner drum be- 457 ingnddpted=: to-l'retuin.-thhhhavier im uritiesof the,= -l1 il ridiand v'the-roth'er set of sh eshetweenl-the'di'umsfnndj-twithin the inner drum lieingjnditptediiogretain the lighter impurities oftthe liquidl-l' j tr-1n machine, a.rotatable drum, -two of shelves in the drum, one set'ofshelves-amn toretain theheav-i'er:

impurities of the liquid and the otherstofflshelves being arranged to:retain. the. lighter impurities of the uid duri rotation of the-drum,and ano er set ofs elvescoiiperating the aforesaid-shelves to and divide.theflow of'liquid between .said"other setsiof.shelves. n. h v

5, Inn .centrifugnl separator en" inner: ands-u outer drum, the'drums-bemount-- ed fol-rotation 'together,- ..two-sets o 'shelves arrangedbetween the drums, two of" shelves 0. withinl'the inner drum,.one

set of shelves 111' the spaoe betweenthe 'hemg airran ed to retain theheavier impurities am? the other sets of shelves between the drums beingarranged to retain tin lighter impurities, one set of shelves in theinner drum being adapted to retain the heavier impurities and one settherein being adapted to retain the lighter impurities, and a set ofshelvescoiipemtin'g with each of the aforesaid two sets of shelves toare rest and divide the eurrent to give the impuritie in the liquid aninitial niovernent in thedizection in which they are to be degmsu'xd. V

6. In a centrifugal separfitor, a rotatable v inner drum and a.rotatable outer drum, spaced apart, shelves arranged in the spaeebetween the drums, and s elves arranged within the inner drum so thattheliquid may, pass over the shelves of the inner drum mid upwardly inthe space --between the CllillllS and be acted; upon by the shelves inits passage through the inner drum and upweldly "through the spacebetween t 'e drums to; pirate:- the. heavier and lighter impurities 1"much other and from the liqui and deposit the impurities upon 0'- site.sides 9 "the liquid, thereby; the liquidin its, assage through e innerugly between the drums in.- eident to'the centrifugal force generated byrotation of ithe'drums and 'thle contet hi the liquid. 5 with the. disksnndfv the escapeof? liquidlfrom' between the: eposit'ed bodies of bl fitr di mspaeed' npnrt, shelves arrnng'ediiii thfi hke between the drums,shelves arranged wi in the'inner drum, the inner shortiofirtheg bottonof 'fthflsouter; drum -sow thatathe. liggtmay iiassiv v lt-heishelves oftheinner :in'ethespnco fu n between the an .iiietuetetlrupon by theshelves in its pmge through the inner drum and u vvardly throughthe-space between the ru ns: to seperate the heavier and lightereach-otherand fromth'e ligui Land deposit?the impurities upon:0Pp0Slte'SldS: ofitheliquid, therebz separatlng thealiquid in itsthroiii the innerxdrum nnd upwu ly hetweem eincident-itothe-nentrifugal:foroe genstated-by rotation-fifths: drumsund the com 'taoLof the liquidwith the shelves-gent! permittinfi' thesescape of 1 the. is from tween:thedepositedfbhdis of im'; purities t-andi'shelves' erranged rtozhold-ibaack 'theflowof liquid-ftemporarfly in its psssnge :Erinn"1theiinner 'drunr to.the spaee :between- 8.:- In .a-nentrifiigalssepfaratof, @lal'fltfllh-bl-f inner. audn rotetableouteniiilriim r apart shelterarranged inthespaoe between'thedrumsvslielvesmrranged 'mthim the innerdrumstheiinnerzdrumlterminntingfilso f liquid 12o.

shelves between the short of the bottom of the outer drum so that theliquid may pass over the shelves of the inner drum and upwardly in thespace between the drums and be acted upon by the shelves in its passagethrough the inner drum and u wardly through the space between the rums,thereby separating the liquid in its passage through the inner drum andupwardly between the drums incident to the centrifugal force generatedby rotation of the drums and the contact of the liquid with the shelves,shelves arranged to hold back the flow of liquid temporarily in itspassage from the inner drum to the space between the drums, and othershelves arranged for cooperation with the first mentioned disks withinthe inner drum and in the space between the drums to arrest and dividethe liquid, thereby giving the liquid an initial movement in thedirection in which they are drawn.

9. In a centrifugal separator, the combination with an inner and anouter drum spaced apart, means whereby the drums may be rotated, theinner drum having an inlet to receive the liquid and the outer drumhaving an outlet to discharge the clarified liquid, shelves within theinner drum and drums, otr shelves arranged to retard and divide theliquid in the inner drum prior to its passa e to the space between thedrums, and the ischarge outlet of the outer drum bein arranged to retardmovement of the liquid to force the liquid between the shelves wherebythe impurities may be deposited and retained between the shelves.

10. In a centrifugal separator, an inner drum and an outer drum spacedapart, means whereby the drums may be rotated, shelves in the innerdrum, and shelves between the drums, the shelves being constructed andarranged to permit the clarified liquid to be thrown ofi while theimpurities are held between the shelves.

11. In a centrifugal separator, nation with an outer drum provided withopenings in its walls, valve rods disposed in the walls of the outerdrum for cooperation with said valve openings, means whereby the valverods may be operated to open and close said valve openings, a seconddrum disposed within the outer drum with its side walls in spacedrelation thereto and with its side walls provided with valve openings,valve rods mou ted in the walls of the inner drum for cooperation withthe valve openings thereof, means whereby the valve rods may be operatedto open and close the valve openings of the inner drum, disks d sposedwithin the inner drum, shelves disposed in the space between the innerand outer drums, and means whereby the drums may be rotated. 7

12. In a centrifugal separator, a hollow the combishaft, having 0en'ings communicating with the hollow of t e shaft, an outer drumprovided with valve openings in its side walls valve rods fitted in theside walls of the outer drum for cooperation with the valve openingsthereof, said outer drum being rotatable with said shaft, means wherebythe shaft may be rotated, an inner drum disposed within the outer drumwith its side walls in spaced relation to the side walls of the outerdrum and whose side walls are provided with a plurality of valve 0enings,

valve rods disposed in the walls of t e inner drum for coiiperation withthe valve openings of the inner drum, means whereby the valve rods ofthe inner drum may be operated to open and close the valve openings ofthe inner drum, means to convey water to the hollow sha'ft, shelves inthe inner drum, and shelves in the space between the drums.

13. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable drum whose axis is arrangedcentrally there of, a second drum within the first mentioned drum anddisposed in spaced relation thereto, sets of shelves in the inner drum,one set bein arranged at the periphery thereof and t e other set at theaxis thereof, shelves in the outer drum, the shelves in the outer drumbeing constructed and arranged one set at the periphery thereof and theother set in spaced relation to the eri hery set of shelves, means forrotating t e rums together, and upon rotation of the drums the shelveseffecting a deposit of the heavier impurities at the peripheries and theother shelves effecting a deposit of the lighter imurities andpermitting escape of the claried liquid from between the bodies ofdeposited impurities.

14. In a centrifugal separato two concentric drums, means for rotatingthe drums, and means at the eripheries of the drums within the same a ated to efi'eet a deposit of and to retain the lieavier impuritiesseparated by rotation of said drums.

15. In a centrifugal separator, a drum, a second drum within the firstmentioned drum, means for rotating the drums, means for passing liquidsthrough one drum and subsequently through the second drum, and meansplaced within said drums for retaining the impurities separated fromsaid liquids by the centrifugal force through the rotation of the drums,and permitting the escape of the clarified liquid while the impuritiesare retained within the drum.

16. A centrifugal separator com rising a drum, a second drum within therst mentioned drum, an inlet to the first mentioned drum, an outlet fromthe second named drum, a passage between the drums, means for retardingliquid passing through said drums, means for rotating the drums, andmeans for retaining impurities at both the periphery and axis of each ofsaid drums and permitting the escape of the clarified liquid.

17. 'A centrifugal separator comprising a drum adapted for rotation,,asecond drum within the first mentioned drum concentric therewith and adated for rotation thereby, an inlet to said dist mentioned drum, anoutlet from the second mentioned drum, a passage between the drums,means for retarding the flow of liquids through the drums, means forrotating the drums, means for retaining the heavier impuritiesthrown tothe peripheries of the drums in rotation, and means for retaining thelighter impurities'at the axis of thedrum.

18. A centrifugal separator comprising a drum, means for conveying 1iuids to the drum, means for retarding t e flow of liquids through thedrum, means to retain the heavier impurities thrown to the periphcry ofthe drum by rotation thereof, and means for retaining the lighterimpurities drawn to the center of the drum by rotation thereof, the twolast mentioned means being disposed directly opposite each other.

19. In a centrifugal machine, a rotatable drum means constructed andarranged within the drum. to retain the heavier impurities of theliquid, means constructed and arranged in the drum to retain the lighterimpurities of the liquid, and means constructed and arranged tocooperate with both. of the aforesaid means to retard and divide theflow of the liquid into cotiperative relation with both of the firstmentioned means.

20. In a centrifugal machine, an inner and an outer rotatable drum, thebottom of the inner drum being spaced from the bottom of the outer drumto establish communication between the drums, means constructed andarranged to convey the liquid to the inner drum, the liquid assingdownwardly through the inner rum and u wardly through the outer drum anddischarged from the latter, and means constructed and arranged withinthe drums to retain the heavier and lighter impurities in spaced bodiesand permit the liquid to flow throu h the drums between the spacedbodies of impurities and discharged while said impurities are held inrest within the drums. H,

21. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable drum and sets of shelvesdisposed within the drum, one set of shelves being opposite to anotherset of shelves and arranged within the drum with one set of shelves atthe periphery and the other set at the axis, whereby the centrifugalforce generated-by the revolving drum will efl'ect a de osit of theheavier impurities at the perip cry of the drum and a deposit of thelighter impurities at the axis of the drum and permit the escape of theclarified liquid from between said impurities.

22. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable drum and sets of shelvesdisposed within the drum and arranged to provide spaces at the peripheryand also at the axis of the drum with a vertical passage between theopposite spaces whereby the centrifugal force generated by the revolvingdrum will effect a deposit of the heavier impurities in the spaces atthe periphery of the drum and a deposit of the lighter impurities in thespaces at the axis of the drum out of the path of the current of theclarified liquid and permit the escape of the clarified liquid frombetween said impurities.

23. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable drum and sets of shelvesdisposed within the drum, the shelves being arranged whereby thecentrifugal force generated by the revolving drum will effect a depositof heavier impurities at the periphery of the drum and a deposit of thelighter impurities at the axis-thereof and permit the escape of theclarified liquid from the space between said deposited impurities,whereby the deposited impurities are not subjected to the strong currentof the clarified liquid which passes through the space between thedeposited impurities.

24. A centrifugal liquid clarifier comprising a drum having a singledischarge opening at its top, means for rotating the drum, and meansconstructed and arranged at the axis and also at the periphery of thedrum to retain im urities deposited at the peripher and at the axis ofthe drum and arrange to protect the deposited impurities from the actionof the clarified liquid which escapes only through said single dischargeopening from between said impurities.

In testimon whereof I afiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

* GEORGE E. SANFORD.

\Vitnesses:

OLOF. A. CARLsoN, EDU. SHANAHAN.

